An information providing system comprises a two-dimensional encoding section which converts at least the information to be provided to the user into two-dimensional codes, a printed sheet producing section which prints the two-dimensional codes on paper, an image reading device which optically reads the two-dimensional codes printed on the paper, and a CPU which restoring the information to be provided to the user based on the two-dimensional codes read by the image reading device.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An information providing system comprising: an encoding unit which converts content information designed for use by end users, and an index corresponding to one of a plurality of subscription levels used by potential end users, the encoding unit converting the content information and the index to two-dimensional codes; a medium producing unit which produces an information providing medium by printing the two-dimensional codes on a media; a reading unit for reading the two-dimensional codes printed on said information providing medium, the two dimensional codes being read for possible use by a current end user; a comparison unit for comparing the index with a subscription level of the current end user; and an information restoring unit which restores the content information that is to be provided to the end user, based on the two-dimensional codes if the index corresponds to a subscription level greater than or equal to the subscription level of the current end user.
2. The information providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the content information contains at least one of text data, static image date, sound data, animation data and a program.
3. The information providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the media is a paper media.
4. An apparatus for producing a medium for providing an information, said apparatus comprising: an encoding unit which converts content information designed for use by end users to two dimensional codes; and a medium producing unit which produces an information providing medium by printing the two-dimensional codes on a media wherein said encoding unit converts into two dimensional code both the content information and an index corresponding to one of a plurality of subscription levels used by potential end users so that the content information can be restored if the index corresponds to a subscription level greater than or equal to the subscription level of a current end user.
5. The apparatus for producing a medium for providing an information according to claim 4 , wherein the content information contains at least one of text data, static image date, sound data, animation data and a program.
6. The apparatus for producing a medium for providing an information according to claim 4 , wherein the media is a paper media.
7. An apparatus for restoring a provided information, said apparatus comprising: a reading unit for reading two-dimensional codes printed on an information providing medium, the two-dimensional codes corresponding to content information for use by end users; and an information restoring unit which restores the content information based on the two-dimensional codes read by said reading unit wherein the two-dimensional codes are obtained by two-dimensionally encoding both the content information and an index corresponding to one of a plurality of subscription levels used by potential end users, and said information restoring unit first restores the index, and restores the content information only if the index corresponds to a subscription level greater than or equal to the subscription level of a current end users.
8. The apparatus for restoring a provided information according to claim 7 wherein the content information contains at least one of text data, static image date, sound data, animation data and a program.
9. Apparatus for restoring a provided information according to claim 7 wherein the media is a paper media.
10. A computer readable medium for storing instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of: encoding content information designed for uses by end users and an index corresponding to one of a plurality of subscription levels used by potential end users; and producing an information providing medium by printing the two-dimensional code on media such that the content information can be restored if the index corresponds to a subscription level greater than or equal to a subscription level of a current end user.
11. The A computer readable medium for storing instructions according to claim 10 wherein the content information contains at least one of text data, static image date, sound data, animation data and a program.
12. The A computer readable medium for storing instructions according to claim 10 wherein the media is a paper media.
13. A computer readable medium for storing instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of: reading two-dimensional codes printed on an information providing medium, the two-dimensional codes corresponding to content information designed for use by end users; and restoring the content information based on the read two-dimensional codes, wherein the two-dimensional codes are obtained by two-dimensionally encoding both the content information and an index corresponding to one of a plurality of subscription levels used by potential end users, and the index is restored first, and the content information is restored only if the index corresponds to a subscription level greater than or equal to a subscription level of a current end user.
14. The information providing system according to claims 13 , wherein the content information contains at least one of text data, static image date, sound data, animation data and a program.
15. The information providing system according to claim 13 , wherein the media is a paper media.
16. A medium for providing information characterized in that, two-dimensional codes recorded on the medium, the two dimensional codes being obtained by two-dimensional conversion of both content information designed for use by end users and an index corresponding to one of a plurality of subscription levels used by potential end users such that the content information is restored if the index corresponds to a subscription level greater than or equal to a subscription level of a current end user.
17. The medium for providing information according to claim 16 , wherein the content information contains at least one of text data, static image date, sound data, animation data and a program.
18. The medium for providing information according to claim 16 , wherein the media is a paper media.
19. An information providing system comprising: an encoding unit which converts content information designed for use by end users and an index corresponding to one of a plurality of subscription levels used by potential end users, into two-dimensional codes; a medium producing unit which produces an information providing medium by printing the two-dimensional codes on a media; a reading unit for reading the two-dimensional codes from said information providing medium; and a reproduction unit to selectively access the content information using the index and to reproduce the content information if the index corresponds a subscription level greater than or equal to a subscription level of a current end user.
20. The information providing system according to claim 19 , wherein the content information contains at least one of text data, static image date, sound data, animation data and a program.
21. The information providing system according to claim 19 , wherein the media is a paper media.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 28, 2000
February 22, 2005
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